Patricia Nakache

General Partner

About Patricia Nakache

One of the longest tenured female VCs in Silicon Valley, Patricia joined Trinity in 1999 and focuses on consumer and business technology startups. She’s a board member of the National Venture Capital Association and a Lecturer in Management at the Stanford Graduate School of Business where she teaches Startup Garage.

Entrepreneurs defy the odds at every turn with almost superhuman effort and intensity. I strive to be their best supporting actress, leveraging my experience and relationships to help them realize their dreams.

How did you decide to become a venture capitalist?

My path to venture capital was serendipitous. In 1999, I had recently left McKinsey & Company to join the dot-com revolution and was working as a startup marketing director. On the side, for fun, I was writing freelance for FORTUNE Magazine about some of the innovative approaches to management being pioneered by Silicon Valley tech companies. For my reporting, I spoke to many venture capitalists. I hit it off so well with the Trinity team that they asked me to join. Upon joining, I was immediately enthralled by the caliber of the entrepreneurs and innovation we see every day. Here I am, nearly two decades later, still loving every day.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

Without a doubt, the greatest rewards come from supporting the amazing feats and successes of our entrepreneurs. I particularly love the pivotal moment when my portfolio companies achieve product-market fit and can turn their attention to scaling. Entrepreneurs defy the odds at every turn with almost superhuman effort and intensity, and I strive to be their best supporting actress, leveraging my experience and relationships to help them realize their dreams.

What about Trinity Ventures makes you proudest and why?

Trinity has an unbeatable culture built on fairness, trust and intellectual honesty. It embraces diversity, and it requires everyone to check their egos at the door. We have deep respect for our entrepreneurs and limited partners, and our approach to solving problems is highly collaborative. Our culture is truly the bedrock of the longevity and success of our firm, and it makes me proud to work here.